Berroco Staysail Cape Knitting Pattern

Berroco Staysail Knit Cape Pattern

Project Overview

The Staysail is an intermediate-level knit cape designed by Amy Palmer, featured in the Berroco Modern Cotton and Modern Cotton DK Spring 2018 Collection. This elegant garment is worked flat from the bottom up and finished with seaming to create a sophisticated poncho-style cape. The finished measurements are approximately 25 inches wide by 56 inches long before finishing, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various occasions.

What Is Being Made

The Staysail is a knit poncho or cape constructed as a single rectangular panel that is seamed along specific edges to create the finished garment shape. The design uses a lace pattern stitch throughout to create visual interest and texture while maintaining a lightweight, breathable fabric suitable for the Modern Cotton yarn base.

Techniques Used

• Bottom-up construction: The garment is cast on and worked upward to the desired length, allowing for easy length adjustments during knitting
• Worked flat: The piece is created on straight needles in flat rows rather than in the round, simplifying the construction process
• Lace patterning: Decorative openwork is incorporated throughout using yarn overs and decreases to create an airy, elegant aesthetic
• Seamed finishing: The bound-off edge is sewn to the right side edge, with specific points matched to transform the flat rectangle into the finished poncho shape
• Blocking: The finished piece requires blocking to achieve proper gauge and measurements, with stitches pulling in significantly until this step is completed

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (k): The foundational stitch used throughout the pattern
• Slip stitch (slip 1 st knitwise wyib): Stitches are slipped knitwise with yarn in back to create clean edges and texture in the lace pattern
• Yarn over (yo): Creates the decorative openings characteristic of lace patterns
• Knit two together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease used to balance yarn overs and maintain stitch count

Pattern Stitch Details

The Pattern Stitch is a repeating lace motif worked over a set-up row followed by repeated rows. The set-up row establishes the pattern with knit stitches, slipped stitches, yarn overs, and decreases. Subsequent rows repeat the same stitch sequence, creating a consistent lace texture throughout the garment. The pattern note emphasizes that stitches will pull in significantly until blocking, so gauge measurements are taken after the blocking process is complete.

Materials Required

Yarn: Berroco Modern Cotton, 100 grams per hank, color #1608 Gadwall. Five hanks are required to complete the project, providing approximately 500 grams of yarn in a cotton fiber content suitable for warm-weather wear.

Needles and Notions: Straight needles in size 9 (5.50 mm) or the size needed to obtain proper gauge. For binding off, a needle two sizes larger (size 11 or 6.00 mm) is recommended to ensure the bound-off edge remains loose and flexible for seaming.

Gauge Information

The pattern gauge is 19 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches in the Pattern Stitch after blocking. Checking gauge before beginning is essential, as even small variations can significantly affect the finished dimensions of the garment. The pattern notes that measuring should be done on spread-out fabric to account for the natural pull of the stitches before blocking.

Construction Summary

The Staysail begins with casting on 117 stitches and working the Pattern Stitch repeatedly until the piece reaches 56 inches in length. The garment is then bound off using a larger needle to maintain elasticity. During finishing, the bound-off edge is sewn to the right side edge, matching specific points to create the poncho shape. The piece is blocked to final measurements, and all ends are woven in to complete the garment.